Garbage disposal assembly



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y 4, 1957 P. .1. ROSSEI 2,792,171

GARBAGE DISPOSAL. ASSEMBLY 2 Shaw-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1956 y 14, 1957 P. J. ROSSET 2,792,171

GARBAGE nIs'PosAL As'sEMBLY Filed June 2a, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 GARBAGE DISPOSAL ASSEMBLY Peter J. Rosset, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application June 28, 1956, Serial No. 594,518

Claims. (Cl. 232-433) This invention relates to garbage disposal assemblies, and specifically pertains to a garbage disposal chute device adapted for installation in home kitchens and operable to conduct garbage from an opening in the kitchen to an outdoor receptacle.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved garbage disposal assembly.

A specific object is to provide an easily operable garbage chute arrangement which is inexpensively constructed, which tends to remain clean, which is easily installed in existing homes as well as in new construction, which is attractive and unobtrusive in appearance, which is easily cleanable, which provides internal chute seals in a manner to minimize odors, which permits the ready removal for emptying of the outdoor container or garbage can, and which will be trouble-free in operation over long periods of use.

A further specific object is to provide a garbage chute assembly which, while requiring only one relatively small opening extending horizontally through the house Wall, is, nevertheless, free of any undesirable tendency of garbage to collect anywhere within the chute.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partially in section and with several portions broken away, of a garbage disposal assembly in accord with the invention, the parts being in normal or rest positions;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing, partially broken away and in section, upper portions of the assembly with parts in their operated, garbage receiving positions;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a sub-assembly embodied in the complete arrangement, partially broken away and in section, the parts being in normal rest positions corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail rear sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken along line 44 of Fig. l and showing details of a hinge or pivot construction associated with the inside closure or entrance door;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail rear sectional view on a similarly enlarged scale taken along line 5-5 of Fig. l and showing details of a hinge or pivot and lever construction associated with the internal chute sealing plates; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional top view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1, and substantially on the scale thereof, showing details of the lower portions of the assembly.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing and specification.

As seen in Fig. l, the disposal assembly comprises an entrance door 1, a chute 2 and a receptacle 3. The chute 2 includes a horizontal upper section 4 joined at its rearward end to a downwardly inclined intermediate section 5, Which, in turn, at its lower end, is joined to the upper end or" a vertical lower section 6. The lower end portion '7 of section 6 includes an internally telescoping movable element 8 to which an apertured cover member 9 is afiixed. While the chute, including element 8, is square or rectangular in cross section, the cover 9 may be circular to fit telescopingly over the upper end 10 of cylindrical receptacle or garbage can 3 of known construction. As shown, the cover has a downturned peripheral flange ll fitting snugly but rnovaby about can 3, while element 8 extends through cover member 9 and has an attachment flange 12 engaging within the cover.

The assembly is installed in connection with the Wall of the home, of which the outer surface is indicated by broken line 13 and the inner surface by broken line 14, in Fig. 1. The'lower chute section 6 is connected to the building wall by means of a pair of similar brace members, such as member 15. Each brace member is provided with an attachment flange and screw 16, or the equivalent, for attachment to outer wall surface 13 and extends from the wall to an anchor bolt 17 which extends through an adjustment slot 18 of the brace and rigidly, but adjustably, joins the brace to the lower end portion 7 of the chute section 6. Bolt 17 further serves as a pivot pin carrying a cover raising lever 19 having a forward hand engageable portion 2b. The lever 29 is provided, between pivot pin or bolt 17 and handle 20, with a depending, pivotally attached link 21 and the link extends downwardly to a pivotal connection 22 joining it to boss 23' attached to cover 9. By pulling upwardly on handle 24}, the lever 19 may be, pivoted on bolt 17 into the position indicated at 19, thereby to raise cover 9 into the position indicated at 9', chute element 3 telescoping upwardly into chute section 6. With the cover in raised position 9', can 3 is free for removal, emptying and replacement.

Located within the chute are two interconnected plates, including a chute sealing and garbage receiving plate 24 and a chute sealing and garbage deflecting plate 25. The plates are rigidly interconnected along a respective edge of each plate at 26 immediately above the angle or joint 27 formed at the intersection of the horizontal lower wall 28 or" section 4 and the inclined lower wall 29 of section 5. The included angle between the plates 24 and 25 is at least substantially equal to the angle of downward inclination of wall 29 plus degrees, or, in other words, when plate 25 is in overlying contact with wall 29, as shown in Fig. 1, plate 24 is either exactly vertical or is slightly forwardly inclined by up to about 5 degrees to overhang plate 25 slightly. The downward inclination of wall 29 is typically 45 degrees, and the angle between plates 24 and 25 would then be substantially 35 degrees.

Plates 24 and 25 are pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin, such as pivot pin 30, to side wall portions 31 and 32 of the horizontal chute section 4, whereby the plates may be pivoted about the axis of pin 36 from the rest or normal position shown in Fig. l to a garbage receiving temporary position shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the axis of pin as is immediately above and parallel to the wall joint 27 and is at least approximately aligned with the interconnection 26 between the plates. Plate 24 is preferably provided with side flanges 33 and 34 to provide ready mounting means for the pivot pins and to prevent, garbage from falling from the sides of the plate.

Side wall portions 31 and 32, in the construction shown, form parts of a subassembly 35 which includes horizontal lower wall portion 36 and upper wall portion 37 and which telescopes into outer upper and lower chute wall portions 38 and 28 of the horizontal chute section 3 4. The subassembly 35 is further detailed in Fig. 3 hereafter described, and as seen in Fig. 1 further comprises a lever 40 and a link 41 pivotally connected thereto by a pin 42, and an arm 43 welded by weld 44 to pivot pin 30. Lever 40 is welded by weld 45 to a pivot pin 46 secured to access door 1 and movable therewith.

Upon swinging access door 1 outwardly and downwardly about the axis of pin 46 into the open position of Fig. 2, lever 40 is rotated into the upright position indicated by broken lines at 40', and link 41 pulls forwardly against the stud 47 of arm 43 to cause plates 24 and 25 to rotate forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2, that is, with plate 24 extending horizontally toward the chute opening 48. The forward swinging of plate 24 is aided by the tension force exerted by springs 49 and 50 and it will be seen that lost motion in the coupling between link 41 and stud 47 is provided by the slot 51. Thus, when door 1 is raised from the horizontally outwardly extending position of Fig. 2, no action of plate 24 occurs until link 41 has been moved an appreciable distance toward the right. As the door 1 approaches closed'position, however, the link 41 forceably moves stud 47 toward the right, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 lifting plate 24 and extending springs 49 and 56. Since the plates 24 and 25 swing rapidly into the positions of Fig. 1, whatever garbage may have been placed on plate 24 is tossed onto plate 25, sliding thereon over the deflector end 52, and falling from edge 52 in a straight drop into can 3 without any contact with the walls of the chute.

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the lever 40 and link 41 go over center when the door 1 is completely closed and the tension of springs 49 and 50 maintain door 1 firmly in closed position. Two parallel springs 49 and 50 are conveniently employed to provide sufiicient tension against arm 43 with springs of small diameter, although a single spring 49 may be selected of sufiicient tension to provide the desired action without a parallel spring 50. The springs are anchored to studs 53 and 54 extending from side wall 31 of subassembly 35. It will be particularly noted in Fig. 2 that with plate 24 lying horizontally toward the chute opening 48, plate 25 extends inclinably upwardly in a position substantially to seal the intermediate section of the chute. A small deodorant cup 55 is preferably provided along section 6 of the chute communicating with the interior through slots 56.

Further details of the subassembly 35 are shown in Fig. 3 wherein the door 1 is seen to be rigidly connected to pivot pin 46, the pivot pin being welded by weld 45 to lever 40. Pin 46 extends through a side wall 31 and is journalled in a boss 57 welded by weld 58 to the side wall. Arm 46 connects through pin 42 to link 41, and slot 51 of arm 41 receives stud 47 of arm 43. Anchor 53 for spring 49 is seen to be mounted to side wall 31 of the subassembly.

Arm 43 is welded by weld 44 to pivot pin 30, and the pivot pin is rigidly connected to flange 33 of plate 24. A boss 59 is welded to wall 31 by weld 60 to provide a bearing for pin 30. The whole subassembly 35 is arranged for insertion into a generally square or rectangular wall opening with the flange 61 engaging the outer wall surface around the opening and with suitable screws being applied through openings 62 for affixing the flange to the wall.

Details of the hinge support for door 1 are seen in the enlarged detail sectional fragmentary view of Fig. 4, wherein it will be seen that the pin 46 may comprise the end portion of a rod 63 extending completely across the door 1 adjacent its lower edge and joined to flange 64 of the door by a weld 65. Pin end portion 46 is attached to arm 49 by weld 45 and bearing boss 57 is attached by weld 58 to side wall 31.

As seen in Fig. 5, the mechanism including lever 40 and arm 41 and plate 43, together with other elements of the operating mechanism for plates 24 and 25, are disposed within a side wall 66 of the unitary chute structure generally identified by the numeral 2 in Fig. 1. The lower wall 28 of the unitary chute structure underlies lower wall 36 of the subassembly 35.

Pin 30 is welded at 67 to flange 33 of plate 24 and extends through side wall 31 of the subassembly and the bearing boss 59 and is welded by weld 44 to arm 43. Pin 47 is seen to connect link 41 to arm 43 and coiled tension spring 49 is seen to be aligned with arm 43 and disposed between walls 66 and 31.

Details of the arrangement of the lower end of the chute is shown in section in Fig. 6, wherein lifting lever 19 is shown pivoted on bolt 17, the bolt serving, with nut 68 to lock support bracket 15to the side wall 69 of the lower chute section 6. Inner chute section 8 opens through the cover member 9 to permit garbage falling in chute section 6 to drop freely to the bottom 70 of the container.

The lever 19 extends, as shown, on both sides of chute section 6, having a pivot bolt 71 corresponding to bolt 17 and a coupling 72 with the cover 9 corresponding to the coupling comprising link 21 and boss 23. Bolt 71 'joins bracket 73 to chute 6 in the same manner that bolt 17 joins bracket 15 thereto. In operation, door 1 of the assembly is swung open, 'by grasping handle 74, thereby, through the linkage and lever mechanism including lever 40, link 41 and arm 43, to swing plates 24 and 25 from the normal rest positions of Fig. 1 into the displaced garbage receiving positions of Fig. 2. The garbage is placed on plate 24 and the door swung to closed position. As the door completes the final 20 degrees or 30 degrees of its closing motion, plates 24 and 25 are swung rapidly into their normal position, and there is a tendency for the garbage to be tossed onto plate 25 and into the vertical chute section 6, falling over the edge 52 of plate 25. Since edge 52 is disposed beyond lower wall 29 of the intermediate chute section 5 and overhangs chute section 6, the garbage tends to fall free of the walls of section 6 and directly to the bottom 70 of receptacle or container 3. Thus the garbage in normal use of the device comes in contact only with plates 24 and 25, and, in the rest condition, the surface of plate 24 on which the garbage is deposited is sealed from the kitchen interior first by the plate itself, which, as explained, is proportioned to at least substantially conform to the duct interior when in upright position, and, second, by the closed door 1.

Cleaning of the garbage contacting surfaces of plates 24 and 25 is readily accomplished, with the parts in the positions of Fig. 2, merely by reaching in through the door opening and wiping the surfaces. Cleaning of the duct sections 5 and 6 is very seldom necessary.

Periodically, when the container 3 becomes full, handle 20 is raised to telescope chute portion 8 into the lower section 6 and to lift cover 9 into the position 9' of Fig. 1,. whereupon the container may be removed, emptied and replaced and the cover lowered.

A particular advantage of the construction may be recognized from an examination of Fig. 1, wherein it will be seen that the horizonutal section of the chute assembly extends through the wall 13-14 in a horizontal direction, thereby facilitating installation, yet garbage placed for disposal does not come in contact with any part of the chute structure except the two plates 24 and 25, and, as previously pointed out, these plates are easily reached for cleaning. It is to be noted that the height of the duct at plate 24 is substantially equal to the length dimension of plate 24, and that the length of the lower wall 36, between flange 61 and linear joint 27 is only very slightly greater than the length of plate 24 in the construction shown, whereby plate 24 in the Fig. 2 position substantially completely covers the whole horizontal chute lower wall.

The construction furthermore permits the vertical section 6 to be spaced outwardly from wall surface 13, thereby to provide space for the disposition of can 3 outside of the wall, while avoiding any unshielded inclined chute section on which garbage may collect, or which would be diflicult to reach for cleaning.

While only certain preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described by way of illustration, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that it be understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A garbage disposal assembly comprising: a hollow chute of rectangular cross section including a horizontally extending upper section joined at one end to a downwardly inclined intermediate section and a vertically lower section joined at its upper end to the lower end of said intermediate section, said upper section having a horizontal lower wall extending from said one end to another end, an entrance door pivotally attached to said upper section for pivoting on an axis substantially along said other end of said lower wall, said intermediate section having a downwardly inclined lower wall joined at one end to said one end of said horizontal wall and joined at its other end to the upper end of a vertical side wall of said lower section, a rectangular chute sealing and garbage receiving plate having a lower edge disposed immediately above said one end of said horizontal section, said plate being pivotally connected to said chute for pivoting on an axis substantially coincident with said lower edge and having a first substantially vertical upstanding position, said plate being proportioned at least substantially to seal said chute in said upstanding position, a rectangular garbage deflecting plate having a first edge rigidly joined to said lower edge of said receiving plate, said plates forming an obtuse angle substantially equal to the angle of inclination of said intermediate section lower wall plus ninety degrees, said deflecting plate having a first position substantially parallel to and immediately above said lower wall or" said intermediate section and extending from said first edge inclinably downwardly and terminating in an edge spaced beyond said other end of said intermediate section lower wall, said intermediate section being proportioned to be substantially sealed by said deflecting plate upon rotation of said deflecting plate about said pivot axis upwardly through ninety degrees into a second sealing position, and a lost motion linkage coupling said plates to said entrance door operative in response to swinging of said entrance door into predetermined open position to swing said receiving plate through ninety degrees into a second position along said horizontal lower wali and said deflecting plate into its said second sealing position and in response to subsequent swinging of said entrance door into predetermined closed position to swing said plates into their said first positions.

2. A garbage disposal chute device comprising a chute generally rectangular in cross section and having a horizontal upper section with a door at one end and a downwardly inclined intermediate section joined at its upper end to the other end of said upper section and a vertical lower section joined at its upper end to the lower end of said intermediate section, said upper section and said intermediate section having respective lower walls joined to one another along a joint spaced from said door by a distance substantially equal to the height dimension of said horizontal chute section, a plate disposed internally of said horizontal section and having an upright rest position substantially sealing said chute, said plate being pivotally connected to said chute along a pivot axis immediately adjacent said joint, said door being swingably connected to said chute and swingable from a normal closed position to an open position, linkage means interconnecting said door and plate operative to swing said plate about its said pivot into horizontal position overlying and substantially covering said lower wall of said horizontal section in response to swinging of said door into open position and back into upright chute sealing position in response to subsequent swinging of said door into closed position, and a garbage receptacle disposed at the lower end of said vertical section and open thereinto to receive garbage therefrom.

3. A garbage disposal chute device comprising a chute generally rectangular in cross section and having a horizontal upper section with a door at one end and a downwardly inclined intermediate section joined at its upper end to the other end of said upper section and a vertical lower section joined at its upper section and said intermediate section having respective lower walls joined to one another along a joint spaced from said door by a distance substantially equal to the height dimension of said horizontal chute section, a plate disposed internally of said horizontal section and having an upright rest position substantially sealing said chute, said plate being pivotally connected to said chute along a pivot axis immediately adjacent said joint, said door being swingably connected to said chute and swingable from a normal closed position to an open position, linkage means interconnecting said door and plate operative to swing said plate about its said pivot into horizontal position overlying and substantially covering said lower wall of said horizontal section in response to swinging of said door into open position and back into upright chute sealing position in response to subsequent swinging of said door into closed position, a deflecting plate rigidly aifixed to said first plate immediately adjacent said pivot axis and extending at an obtuse angle to said first plate into said intermediate section and terminating in an edge spaced from said pivot axis by a distance greater than the length dimension of said lower wall of said intermediate section, whereby, upon closure of said door, garbage deposited on said first is thrown to said deflecting plate and falls over said edge into the interior of said lower section free of the walls thereof, and a garbage receptacle disposed at the lower end of said vertical section and open thereinto to receive garbage therefrom.

4. The device of claim 2 in which a lever is pivotally connected to the vertical chute section adjacent its lower end and a cover for the garbage receptacle is linked to said lever.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the vertical chute section comprises a stationary upper portion to which the lever is pivotally connected and a telescoping lower portion connected to and extending upwardly from the receptacle cover.

No references cited. 

